Vibro replacement

Vibro replacement is a deep vibratory method for improving the load-bearing capacity of the subsoil. It involves producing columns from gravel or crushed stone. This method is used for predominantly fine-grained and mixed-grained soils.

Economical and environmentally sound

Deep foundations and large-scale soil replacement to compensate for very soft strata or strata with poor load-bearing capacity are generally expensive and time-consuming, which is why targeted measures to improve the subsoil can be a much more economical alternative. Vibro replacement is quick and economical.

This is an especially sustainable deep vibratory method that does not require the use of cement. The use of materials like gravel and crushed stone, which are already present on site, makes this subsoil improvement particularly environmentally friendly.

The deep vibratory method is a cost-effective way of improving subsoils and is mainly used for the foundation of structures on subsoils with insufficient load-bearing capacity. These include:

• Residential and commercial buildings
• Hotels
• Industrial buildings
• Office and administration buildings
• Shopping centres

Vibro-replacement is used in fine-grained and mixed-grained soils. Gravel or crushed stone columns (preferably washed gravel with a grain size of 8/16mm or 8/32mm) are produced one by one in soils that are difficult or impossible to compact.

The wide range of available design variants means that optimum solutions can be found for every construction site and every subsoil.

• Full soil displacement
• No cement used
• Very good carbon footprint
• High daily output
• Adaptable design: the vibrator can be lowered into the ground at different depths, depending on resistance, or to a fixed depth as required
• If the soil is very soft, the columns can be grouted by adding a grouting slurry.
• Flexible column grid
• Increasing water permeability
   

High quality assurance standards ensure safety during execution 

Standards and regulations

Soil improvement by means of deep vibration is designed and produced in accordance with the German national standard DIN EN 14 731.

Production

The vibratory tamper is aligned above the point where the column is to be produced and the gravel/material bucket is loaded by a telescopic forklift or wheel loader. The vibrator is then lowered to the target depth with the aid of a hydraulic excavator or a caterpillar. The soil is compacted in stages from the planned target depth upwards.

Pressurised air is used to feed backfill material into any cavities that occur. The vibrator is then lowered back into the ground to compact the backfill and the surrounding soil.

Once compaction is complete, the ground surface is levelled and compacted with a surface vibrator.

We ensure high execution quality with:

• Individually coordinated instructions
• Compliance with the requirements of DIN EN 14 731
• Monitoring via automatic manufacturing protocols
• Digital monitoring and evaluation of the manufacturing parameters
• Clear processes via our quality management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2015
   

There are three different methods, depending on the desired function, the nature of the soil and the load transfer.

Vibro compaction

Vibro compaction is used for coarse-grained soils that are compacted in themselves.

Vibro replacement

This is a vibro-tamping method used for fine-grained and mixed-grained soils. It involves successively producing gravel or crushed stone columns in soils that are impossible or difficult to compact. These two processes and their areas of application are shown in the following grain size diagram.

Vibro in-situ concrete columns

Vibro in-situ concrete columns are used for particularly high load transfers.